Method of forming sheet-metal spools.



E. J. HUBBARD.

METHOD OF FORMING SHEET METAL SPOOLS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2. 1913.

1,155,357. Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

TED STATES PATENT @FFKQE.

EIBER J. HUBBAR D OF IBERlVYN, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF FORMING SHEET-METAL SPOOLS.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

Application filed October 2, 1913. Serial No. 792,952.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,-EBER J. HUnBApD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berwyn, in' the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in 'Methods of Forming Sheet-Metal Spools, of which the followin is a specification.

. My invention relates to sheet metal spools of the class for receiving twine, cord, yarn, wire, or the like, and contemplates procedure which will greatlysimplify the spool structure and which will greatly reduce the cost thereof. 4

Sheet metal spools usually comprise a cylindrical-sheet metal hub part with flaring 'frusto-conical end sections, and usually end disks inserted in the frusto-conical ends to adapt the spool for support on spindles or otherv winding and unwinding centers. A simple way for producing a hub part and frusto-conicalend sections would be to cut lengths of metal tubing and expand the end sections thereof. Such procedure would, however, require tubing stock of comparatively heavy gage in order that there would be suflicient metal at the ends to compensate for stretching during expansion of the end sections and to leave suflicient metal in such end sections for the required strength.

One of the important objects of my invention is to provide improved procedure which will produce from thin gage sheet metal a spool in which the cylindrical hub and end sections are in the form of a single continuone piece of metal, thus giving the same shape and features as though the ends of a pipe section were expanded into frusto-conical form.

The various features of my invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in' Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a finished spool with part thereof in vertical diametral section, Fig. 2 is a front elevationalxview showing the two composlng sections arranged butt .to butt ready to be welded together, and Fig. 3 is an elevat onal view of one of the composing sections in its embryo stage. A

The finished spool shown on Flg. 1 comflprises a cylindrical hub section 5 on whose ends extend the frusto-conical end sections 6 and 7 which are integral with the hub section. Inserted into the mouth inner ends of these"halves.

-of each flaring end' section is an end spool for connection with a driving member sothat the spool may be rotated to have the yarn or the like wound thereon. If lightness were no factor, the hub section 5 together with the frusto-conical end sections {3 and 7 could readily be formed by expanding or flaring outthe end sections of a length of metal tubing. However, to allow for such stretching and to maintain suflicient thickness of the metal and strength at the ends of the flared sections, the tubing must be of comparatively heavy gage. This of course means increased expense and weight, and in the manufacture of spools it is very desirable that the weight be reduced as much as possible, and likewise the expense.

The main purpose of my invention isto tages of a spool formed of a length of tubing yet which will be of minimum Weight and expense. I attain this by performing of sheet metal the longitudinal halves'of the spool and then welding together the To form the halves sheet metaldisks are deflected by dies into cup-shape as shown in Fig. 3, either-in one die step or in a series of die steps; After forming such cupshaped halves, the bottom 11 of each is punched therefrom along the line 11 and the remaining annular section is then turned outwardly at' right angles to form a flange 12. The

' halves are then brought together with their flanges in register and abutting and by means of a suitable flame directed thereon the abutting flange sections are melted and construct a spool which has all the advanfused. down, part of the metal running between the flanges and thus butt welding together the body parts 5 and 5 of the halves.

A skilled welder can very quickly and readily fuse down the projecting flanges without burning any of the metal so that the cylindrical parts 5 and 5 of the halves will become so completely welded together as to form practically a single piece hub part as shown in Fig. 1. Of course, after the welding operation any projections can be easily ground down in order that the spool will present a perfectly smooth winding surface.

' shaped halves, then turning over the result- I The completed spool body is therefore practically in the form of a single piece of metal and when the end disks are inserted there are only three parts to the spool, thus making a very light yet rigid and inexpensive structure.

I. do not of course desire to be limited to the precise construction and procedure referred to as modifications might be possible Within the scope of the appended claims.

l claim the following:

1. The method of forming a sheet metal spool Which consists in forming from sheet metal tWo cup-shaped halves each comprising a cylindrical body part and flaring end, then, removi ig the bottoms of the cuping' edge of each cup-shaped member radially outwardly to form a flange, and then abutting these flanges and fusing them down and together to Weld the bottom ends of the cupshaped members securely together to thereby form a one-piece sheet metal spool body. v

2.- The method of forming a sheet metal spool body which consists in drawing out of sheet metal disks tWo cup-shaped halves, and then Welding the halves together at the peripheries of their bottoms to thusform a single piece sheet metal spool body. In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of September, 1918. EBER J. HUBBARD. Witnesses: CHARLES J. SCHMIDT, EDMUND G. INeERsoLL. 

